Envelope stuffing machine



p 1945- R. H. THOMPSON 2,384,506

ENVELOPE STUFFING MACHINE Filed Oct. 21, l943 5 Sheets-Sheet l m g \9 SINVENTOR. Russia /71 72/0/1R5OM firm/rains.

Sept 11, 1945. R. H. THOMPSON ENVELOPE STUFFING MACHINE Filed Oct. 21,1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 11, 1945. R. H. THOMPSON ENVELOPE STUFFINGMACHINE Filed Oct. 21, 1943 5 Sheets$heet 3 INVENTOR. Pusan; /7.T/10/7PJOM W I fir a/fwfri Patented Sept. 11, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE ENVELOPE STUFFING MACHINE Russell H. Thompson, Indianapolis, Ind.Application October 21, 1943, Serial No. 507,101

17 Claims.

This invention relates to a stufling machine for inserting foldedletters, folded inserts or circulars or both into an open envelope.

It is to be observed that printing machines are available which willprint and fold reading matter as desired. Also, machines are availableto address envelopes from address plates, etc. Also, machines areavailable to seal envelopes, or seal and stamp same, or seal and metermail stamp same.

All of these last mentioned machines are well known in thecircularizing, etc., art and offers no problem to the expeditious andrepetitious operation inherent in each machine. The only intermediateproblem has been the insertion of the folded letter, or advertising, orboth, mechanically and expeditiously into the envelope.

Herein envelopes are utilized with the flap open and not folded.

The chief object of the present invention is to simplify stufiingmachines of the general character specified.

The chief feature of the present invention resides in the inlinearrangement of reservoirs for the aforesaid envelopes and letters and/orinserts and the reciprocatory stuiiing ram, whereby a machine not muchover fifteen to eighteen inches wide and about two to two and a halffeet long can expeditiously handle, and automatically stuff thousands ofenvelopes in an hour.

Of course, if more inserts are to be included in the envelope, themachine would be proportionately elongated and instead of having two orthree reservoirs, as herein disclosed, same would include four or more,all, however, being tandem or in-line arranged and all associated with asingle reciprocatory pusher or ram.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fullyhereinafter,

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one and the preferredembodiment of the machine, there being three reservoirs included thereinand these of adjustable area, the height thereof being about fifteeninches more or less, same having been found most convenient and ofconsiderable storage capacity.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view.

Fi 3 is a horizontal View taken in the plane indicated by broken line3-3 of Fig. 2 and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on broken line 3-4 of Fig. 1and in the direction of the arrows and of the open envelope reservoir.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and of a modifled form of finger andoperating mechanism therefor.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and of a modifled form of finger andoperating mechanism therefor.

In the drawings, ill indicates a base plate suitably supported by legsor the like ll connected as at l2. Plate to herein is divided to formcoextensive slot 53. A pair of angles Hl, spaced a lesser distance apartthan the slot I3, is wide, forms a seat for member l5 to which issecured at is depending member ll, see Fig. 4. This member H is ofstirrup type (see Fig. 2) although it might well be a singularly slottedmember, providing slot l8 therein.

Member l5 has secured to its upper right hand end, as at E9, the pusheror ram member 20, see Figs. 1 and 2. Note that the forward edge 2|thereof is spaced appreciably forward from member 22, see Fig. 2, andthis distance preferably is approximately that of or in excess of thedeepest envelope for reasons hereinafter stated.

An upright, transversely extending, plate 23 is suitably secured to baseIll, as by ears 24 and screws 25. This plate includes forwardly directedledge 26 near the base it. Adjacent each end of plate 23 and extendingat right angles to plate 23 are the smaller plates 2'! having oppositelydirected flanges 28 at their lower ends.

A pair of aligned, elongated, spaced slots 29 in plate Ill and parallelto plate 23 seat threaded anchor members 30 carrying wing nuts 3| bywhich the plates 2? can be adjusted transversely upon the base Ill andat the desired distance apart. Note that said slots are so spaced fromplate 23 that members 21 can, without interference from shelf or ledge26, be brought closer together and to the limit substantially determinedby the spacing between aligned slots 29.

In the base In and at each side of the path of ram 20 and extendingrearwardly from approximately the forward edge of ledge 26 are theelongated parallel slots 32 in each of which is mounted finger 33 towhich reference will be had more fully hereinafter.

Forwardly of plates 21 and in base H] are the elongated parallel slots34 and a U-shaped plate or channel member 35 with oppositely directedears 36, which receives threaded member 3! seated in said slots 34 andby means of wing nut 38 member 35 may be secured to base In and parallelplate 23 and at the desired distance forwardly thereof. Secured to thebase It! adjacent plate 35 and at opposite sides of the path of ram 20are the support plates or blocks 39 tapered or relieved as at 40.

The lower edge of plate 35 terminates sufficiently above the upper planeof members 39 so as to pass a unit (circular letter, etc.) therebeneathas hereinafter described. To insure passage of but one unit, see Fig. 4for details, plate 35 at each side of the ram path slidably mountsvertically reciprocable member 4| with rubber tip 42 and normallyconstrained to lower position determined by the top plane of members 3.These members are aligned or register with fingers 33, as shown in Fig.1.

The foregoing, plate 23, side plates 21 and forward plate 35, constitutea reservoir obviously adjustable to size of insert unit (folded letteror circular). This unit is designatedby letter A in Fig. 2. It will benoted such unit includes two folds a and a and an upper wider portion a.The weight of a stack of such units, gravity or a weight follower on thetop of the stack causes portions a and a to press downward upon members39 and the rearward edge of portion a is held elevated by ledge 26, sothat fingers 33 can move forward between portions a and a when saidfingers move forward followed by the ram 20 therebetween, see Figs. 1and 4.

For-wardly of the beforementioned reservoir is a duplicate thereof. Inthe same is stack of folded letters B with portions b and b of smallerfolds than portion b which rests upon ledge 26. When insert A is ramengaged and passed below the lower edge of plate 35, same passes betweenportions b and b now separated by the second set of fingers 33 until theram carried insert A is nested in insert or letter B and carriedforwardly with the ram below the lower edge of the second plate 35. Fig.2, second reservoir, shows units A and B nested for transfer.

Forwardly of these two reservoirs is the envelope reservoir. Rigid withplate III are the spacer blocks 50 carrying the cross bar (ledge 26equivalent) slotted as at 52 for finger 33 passage or clearance. Thiscross bar has a forwardly directed support portion 53. At each side is acurved plate 54 carried byiiange 55 adjusted by member 56 seated intransverse slot 51 and tightened by wing nut 58.

Forwardly of the aforesaid are the spaced blocks 59 sloped as at 59a andover which is mounted a U-shaped plate 60, similar to plate 35, andlongitudinally adjusted by parallel, elongated, longitudinally directedslots 5| in plate In and by members 62 and wing nuts 63 which clampflanges 64 on plate 60. Same also mounts members 4| with tips 42 asaforesaid. The details of such member 4| mountingis shown clearly inFig. 4.

In the resulting reservoir is a stack of open flap envelopes C havingthe back 0', the front 0 and flap c. In Fig. 2 insert A and B areillustrated as nested in envelope C. Observe that in Fig 2 all parts arein the initial or starting position, and the units A, B and C in nestedrelation is illustrative of nesting and stufling, not of actualconditions at any one time or instant.

The envelope, address side up with flap resting on portion 53 is openedby fingers 33 movable in slots 32 and 52, so that the stuffing ram canfollow through with nested insert and folded letter and stuff theenvelope. Continued travel of the ram to the right forces the stuffedenvelope below the lower edge of plate 60 and beyond same.

assgeoe The stuffed envelope, as it passes forwardly, has its lower edgeengage depending portion 65 of an angle member pivoted at 66 and havingits free end 61 connected by spring 68 to anchor 69. These angle membersare tilted upwardly and outwardly distending springs 68. When the ramreverses its travel direction, these members hold the envelope and itscontents against rearward travel and insure positive separation. Thestuffed envelope then falls downwardly to a receiver not shown, or to aconveyor, of a sealing machine as before described.

When the combined units are of suflicient weight, same automaticallystrip from the ram upon its retrograde movement. It will be rememberedthat the length of the ram was important. It now appears it must be longenough to pass beneath plate 60 an amount sufficient to push the entireunfolded or open flap envelope beyond plate 60 and its rubber fingers42.

In each instance rubber fingers 42 serve as yielding retainers,permitting escape from each reservoir of only one unit from thatreservoir at a time.

Reference will now be had to the means for moving the several sets offingers and the ram. It will be.recalled, see Fig. 4, that dependingfrom plate [0 are channels I4. Pivoted therein at 10, below each slot oraperture 32, is an ear ll carrying arm 12 with another ear 13. The upperend of arm T2 is curved upwardly and forwardly as the finger 33.

A longitudinally directed bar 14 connects at 15 to all ears 13 of onelongitudinal series of fingers. The rearward end of each of the pair ofbars 14 at 16 is connected to a link 11 in turn connected to a crosshead18 at 19. A pair of springs is connected at 8| to the crosshead and at82 to the underface of base Ill.

The crosshead 18 may be provided with arm 83 adapted to engage stop 84carried by stem 85 of piston 86 in cylinder 81 containing spring 88 andserving as a cushioning dashpot. The cylinder is secured to base H] asat 89.

When the ram is retracted beyond the first reservoir, it picks up thecrosshead l8 and moves it to the left in opposition to springs 80, thusloading or tensioning same. The crosshead may engage cushion stop 90,see Fig. 2.

When the ram moves forward, springs 80 cause crosshead 18 to travelsimilarly, which throws all fingers upwardly and forwardly andsimultaneously, this movement, as stated, being dashpot cushioned, ifdesired, as illustrated. The ram-crosshead contact is by member 9| andthe stirrup ll. Forward movement of fingers 33 may be limited by any arm12 engaging the forward end of its slot 32, or other suitable means.

The means for reciprocating the ram includes the crosshead I5, stirrupI1 and a roller 92 carried by a shaft 93 secured to and projectinglaterally of endless belt 94 passing about fore and aft spaced drums 95and 96 mounted on shafts 91 and 98, respectively, carried by dependingbearings 99 and IE0, respectively. These may be adjusted for belttensioning, see Fig. 3. Shaft 98 is elongated and carries pulley lfll bywhich same may be driven by a belt and motor-reducer drive, or any othersuitable source of rotational power, not shown.

As pulley Hll is rotated, drum 96 is rotated, hence belt 94 is caused totravel and always in the same direction. Since roller 92 is carriedtherewith, stirrup l1 perforce follows, roller 32 raising and loweringin slot [8, as required, as the roller raises to the upper level at thestart of cycle and then lowers at the half cycle and raises at the endof the cycle. Hence, ram 20 is caused to reciprocate with but slightdwell periods at the travel limits incident to travel directionreversal.

As long as pulley II is rotated and the reservoirs are kept filled, thestufier will be automatic and repetitious in operation. Note that thefingers are projected upwardly and forwardly at all times until the ramapproaches its rearward limit of travel, whereupon the fingers arelowered and retracted. When so positioned (the ram is now fullyretracted) all lowest members in the several reservoirs lower until theuppermost rearward portion thereof rests above the lowermost forwardportion. Upon ram initial travel forwardly, the fingers advance andelevate i'or separating purposes as described. No further description ofoperation is believed necessary.

In Fig. a modified form of finger structure is illustrated. In this formthe link rod or actuator I14 similar to rod 14, Fig. 2, is pivotallyconnected to successive fingers I12 at I15. Herein pin I carried by thelower end of arm I12 rides in an elongated slot I11 in frame H4. Rod I14is slidably guided by brackets 113. Each arm has finger extension i 33associated with slot I32 as before described.

Herein, since arm-finger I12-|33 moves fore and aft with rod I14 and rases and lowers finger I33 permitted by slot IN, the desired action canbe obtained. This action in many cases is more desirable than thatactually obtainable wherein the fingers have arcuate travel only aboutpivo ots 10.

In Fig, 6 a modified form of finger operating mechanism is illustrated.In said figure the folded letter or insert shows the short fold closelyadhering to the adjacent portion due to previous pressure staticattraction, etc. The present finger 233 has a retracted position so thatits entering end is immediately adjacent ledge 226.

Initial finger movement causes separation of the folded letter or insertand continued finger movement elevates the stack thereof to free themutually adhering portions. The dotted are above slot 232 indicates thistravel. This form includes the vertical pin and slot connection 21l aneccentric 213a pivoted on the frame at 213 and pivotally connected toarm 212 at 215. Herein guides for rod 215 are omitted and a link 216connects rod 215 to member 211 actuable like members 11 and I11.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detailin the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be consideredas illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein, as well as others which willreadily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all areconsidered to be within the broad scope of the invention, referencebeing had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. Mechanism for stufling envelopes and/or nesting inserts comprising incombination a plurality of substantially open mouthed reservoirssequentially arranged and having their mouths substantially coplanar,and a single ram movable adjacent the mouths and from reservoir toreservoir in succession for the purpose described, each reservoirincluding at its rearward side a unit supporting ledge means immediatelyabove the ram path of movement, the reservoir mouth permittingpositioning of the ledge mean supported unit in the path of the ram, thereservoir having a unit discharge lateral outlet opposite the said ledgemeans.

2. Mechanism for stufiing envelopes and/or nesting inserts comprising incombination a plurality of substantially open mouthed reservoirssequentially arranged and having their mouths substantially coplanar, asingle ram movable adjacent the mouths and from reservoir to reservoirin succession for the purpose described, each reservoir including at itsrearward side a unit supporting ledge means immediately above the rampath of movement, the reservoir mouth permitting positioning of theledge means supported unit in the path of the ram, the reservoir havinga unit discharge lateral outlet opposite the said ledge means, andfinger means for each reservoir andjuxtapositioned to the mouth of thesame and movable into'the reservoir mouth in timed relation to rammovement.

3. Mechanism for stufilng envelopes and/or nesting inserts comprising incombination a plurality of substantially open mouthed reservoirssequentially arranged and having their mouths substantially coplanar, asingle ram movable adjacent the mouths and from reservoir to reservoirin succession for the purpose described, each reservoir including at itsrearward side a unit supporting ledge means immediately above the rampath of movement, the reservoir mouth permitting positioning of theledge means supported unit in the path of the ram, the reservoir havinga unit discharge lateral outlet opposite the said ledge means, andcontinuously movable means for moving the ram, said continuously movablemeans eilecting reciprocation of said ram.

4. Mechanism for stufling envelopes and/or nesting inserts comprising incombination a plurality of substantially open mouthed reservoirssequentially arranged and having their mouths substantially coplanar, asingle ram movable ad- Jacent the mouths and from reservoir to reservoirin succession for the purpose described, each reservoir including at itsrearward side a unit supporting ledge m'eans immediately above the rampath of movement, the reservoir mouth permitting positioning of theledge means supported unit in the path of the ram, the reservoir havinga unit discharge lateral outlet opposite the said ledge means, andcontinuously movable means for moving the ram, said continuously movablemeans efiecting reciprocation of said ram, and comprising an endlessstructure and a pin and elongated slot connection between the endlessstructure and the ram.

5. A method of stufling envelopes including facing downwardly an openflap envelope with its front p. positively separating the front and backof the envelope at the mouth thereof and then stutllng the envelopewhile the mouth is held open, there being relative movement between theenvelope and stuiling material, the stufling material being folded andthe folded material being slightly opened to nest initially othermaterial by relative movement therebetween, the nested and foldedmaterial subsequently being stufied into the envelope.

6. A method of stuffing envelopes including facing downwardly an openfiap envelope with its front up, positively separating the front andback of the envelope at the mouth thereof and then stufiing the envelopewhile the mouth is held open, there being relative movement between theenvelope and stufiing material, the stufling ma-- terial being foldedand the folded material being slightly opened to nest initially othermaterial by relative movement therebetween, the nested successivelyadvancing the material toward the envelope.

"1. A. method of stuiilng envelopes including facing downwardly an openfiap envelope with its front up, positively separating the front andback of the envelope at the mouth thereof and then stufling the envelopewhile the mouth is held open, there being relative movement between theenvelope and stuffing-material, the stufling material being folded andthe folded material being slightly opened "to nest initially othermaterial by relative movement therebetween, the nested and foldedmaterial subsequently being stuffed into the envelope, the foldedmaterial being held open for other materialreception therein and untilit is fully nested therein.

8. Mechanism for stufiing and ini'olding purposes comprising incombination a plurality of longitudinally aligned open mouthedreservoirs, each for unit reception and having a ledge positionedopposite a lateral outlet and spaced slightly from the mouth, a pair ofspaced fingers for each reservoir and movable into the mouth and towardsthe outlet, and a ram movable beneath each ledge and outlet insuccession and between said pairs of fingers.

9. Mechanism, as defined by claim 8, wherein all fingers aresimultaneously movable into the reservoir mouths and simultaneouslyretracted therefrom.

10. Mechanism, as defined by claim 8, wherein the ram has areciprocatory cycle of travel.

11. Mechanism, as defined by claim 8, wherein all fingers aresimultaneously movable into the reservoir mouths and simultaneouslyretracted therefrom, the ram having a reciprocatory cycle, the fingersnormally being constrained in one direction and movable oppositelyincident to a portion of the cyclic ram movement,

I 12. Mechanism, as defined by claim 8, wherein all fingers aresimultaneously movable into the reservoir mouths and simultaneouslyretracted therefrom, the ram having a reciprocatory cycle, the fingersnormally being constrained in one direction and movable oppositelyincident to a portion of the cyclic ram movement, and dash pot cushionmeans for cushioning the constraint movement of fingers.

13. Mechanism, as defined by claim 8, wherein each reservoir adjacentits outlet includes means normally constrained to prevent multiple unitdischarge from. that reservoir, said ram having a linearly reciprocatorycycle of travel.

14. Mechanism for stufling and iniolding purposes comprising incombination a plurality of longitudinally aligned open mouthedreservoirs, each for unit reception, the reservoir mouths lying inspaced relation to a support, finger means juxtapositioned to thesupport and movable into each mouth and across the same, a ram formoving said finger means.

15. Mechanism as defined by claim 14 wherein each finger means ispivoted below the reservoir mouth and the moving means includes aninterconnection between the finger means.

16. Mechanism, as defined by claim 14, wherein each finger meansincludes a pin and slot connection below the reservoir mouth and themoving means include a singular member to which each finger means ispivotally connected.

17. Mechanism, as defined by claim 14, wherein each finger meansincludes a pin and slot connection below the reservoir mouth and themoving means includes a singular member to which each finger means ispivotally connected, and a pivotally mounted member having eccentrictype connection with said singular member and said finger means.

RUSSELL H. THOMPSON.

